METHOD FOR TREATING METAL-CONTAMINATED WATER

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention pertains to the use of lignin derivatives in the removal of metal contaminants from water. It further pertains to the immobilization of leachable metal contaminants in soils and sediments.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Contamination of water and soils by heavy metals is a serious environmental concern. As one example, soil contamination by mercury and other heavy metals is a common result of mining operations. Such heavy metals typically leach into water that comes into contact with the contaminated soil. The metals therefore give rise to environmental hazards in respect of both the contaminated soil and the water contaminated thereby, which may find its way into drinking water supplies.

[0003] Various processes have been proposed for reducing the metal content of wastewater. It is known that flocculating agents are of use in such processes. For example, U.S. Patent 5,720,886 (Iwinski) discloses a process for removing metals from mine wastewaters that uses an anionic polymer and a flocculent.

[0004] It is also known that a variety of compounds form complexes with metal ions, providing the potential to remove the metal ions from the compositions they contaminate. Lignin is commonly considered to be the precursor of humic and fulvic acids, which are major organic constituents of soils. The capacity of humic and fulvic acids to complex metal ions is well established. For example, U.S. Patent 6,143,692 (Sanjay et al.) discloses a process for removing metals from water using humic acid.

[0005] Kraft lignin and lignosulfonates are two classes of lignin derivatives available commercially. They are produced as by-products of the sulfate and sulfite pulping processes respectively. Lignosulfonates have been used in processes for the removal of various organic contaminants from water. Such processes are disclosed, for example, in U. S. Patent 5,736, 032 (Cox et al.), U. S. Patent 4,933, 087 (Markham, Jr. et al.) and U. S. Patent 5,308, 499 (Dixon et al.).

[0006] Lignosulfonates and kraft lignin contain an abundance of oxygen-containing functional groups, which are capable of forming lignin-metal complexes with high stability through ionic and covalent chemical bonding. It would be desirable to be able to use these plentiful and inexpensive lignin derivatives in processes for the effective removal of heavy-metal contaminants from water, and for the stabilization of heavy metal contaminants in soils, so that their leachability from such soils is substantially reduced.

Summary of Invention

[0007] It is an object of the invention to provide an efficient and economical process for the removal of metal contaminants from water using lignin derivatives and a coagulant.

[0008] According to the invention, there is provided a method of removing metal contaminants from water comprising the steps of:

(a) dispersing lignin derivatives in said metal-contaminated water, said lignin derivatives comprising one or more of lignosulfonates, kraft lignin and sulfonated kraft lignin salts;

(b) dispersing a coagulant comprising a metal salt in the mixture formed in step (a), the mass ratio of the lignin derivatives to the coagulant being at least 1:1;

(c) adjusting the pH of the mixture formed in step (b) to a pH in the range of 4-10, causing the formation of a floc;

(d) allowing said floc to settle, resulting in a liquid and a sludge; and

(e) separating said sludge from said liquid.

For example, the pH may be adjusted by the addition of a suitable composition, such as hydrated lime. The floc is allowed to coagulate and form a sludge, which is then separated from the treated water, preferably by filtration.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

[0009] The water that can be treated by the methods of the invention can be any water contaminated by metals, for example, wastewater from a mining site contaminated by mercury. The term "mixture" in this specification means any combination of the components in issue, without regard to the physical form of the combination, and includes dispersions, suspensions, solutions, colloids, etc.

[0010] The metals that can be removed according to the methods of the invention are heavy metals, including mercury, chromium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc, as well as lighter metals, such as aluminum.

[0011] The invention provides a new water treatment process in which lignin derivatives are dissolved in metal-contaminated water, where they form a lignin-metal complex. Following formation of this complex, a coagulant comprising a metal salt such as ferric chloride, is added to the water, where it hydrolyses to form a floc, such as ferric floc. This floc absorbs the lignin-metal complex, coagulates and settles as sludge. Thus, a clear filtrate is formed which contains only very small residual amounts of the metal contaminants. For example, the dissolved metal content of the water can be reduced from about 4,000 ppb to less than 1 ppb.

[0012] In general terms, the method for the removal of metal contaminants from water comprises the steps of dispersing lignin derivatives in the water, adding a coagulant, while agitating the mixture, making flocculation occur, allowing the floc to coagulate and settle to form a sludge, and dewatering the sludge. The sludge produced in this process traps stable complexes of lignin derivatives and metal compounds, which are rendered unleachable according to the standard test protocol, namely the "Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure" (TCLP) (EPA Method 1311).

[0013] The lignin derivatives used are lignosulfonates, kraft lignin and sulfonate kraft lignin salts, and mixtures thereof. The lignosulfonates include ammonium, calcium, sodium and potassium lignosulfonates. The sulfonated kraft lignin salts include the ammonium, calcium, sodium and potassium salts. All these lignin derivatives are available as by-products of pulp mill processes.

[0014] The coagulants used are any ones comprising a metal salt that can form a complex with the lignin derivatives that can scavenge the metal ions to be removed. The coagulant preferably includes iron salts and aluminum salts. More preferably it is ferric chloride, ferric sulfate, aluminum chloride or aluminum sulfate.

[0015] The mass ratio of the lignin derivatives to the coagulant significantly affects the efficiency of the metal removal process. The mass ratio is at least 1:1 and preferably at least 1:2. For greater clarity, "at least 1:2" means 1:2 and 1:more than 2.

[0016] The formation of a floc depends on the pH of the aqueous mixture. Where the water being treated is sufficiently basic, the pH after the addition of lignin derivatives and coagulant may still be sufficiently high that a floc will form. In such case the step of causing the formation of a floc merely involves waiting for the floc to form after the lignin derivatives and coagulant have been dispersed in the water. In general, however, it is necessary to increase the pH by the addition of a suitable basic composition. This is done after the addition of the coagulant.

[0017] Suitable compositions for adjusting the pH include hydrated lime, calcium oxide, magnesium hydroxide, soda ash and sodium hydroxide. The pH is adjusted to a pH appropriate for effecting coagulation, in the range of 4-10, and preferably in the range of 5-6.

[0018] The sludge is removed by any convenient means. Preferably, it is removed by filtering the treated water and sludge, for example in a filter press, to separate the sludge, which contains the complexed metals, from a clear filtrate, having a greatly reduced metal content. Other sludge-removal means include decanting, centrifuging and using a clarifier.

Example 1:

[0019] A wastewater having a pH of 9.3, a total mercury concentration of 2490 µg/L, a dissolved mercury concentration (size ≤ 0.45, µm) of 1880 µg/L, and a conductivity of 1300 microSiemens/cm, was treated by mixing 100 parts by weight of wastewater with 0.4 parts by weight ammonium lignosulfonates. 3.2 parts by weight of a 40 weight % ferric chloride solution was added while agitating the mixture. The pH was adjusted to 5.1 using hydrated lime. The resulting sludge was removed by filtration, leaving a filtrate having a mercury content of 0.67 µg/L.

Example 2:

[0020] Following the procedure of Example 1, 100 parts by weight of the wastewater of Example 1 was treated with 0.9 parts by weight of kraft lignin and 4 parts of a 40 weight % ferric chloride solution. The final pH after hydrated lime addition was 5.2. The filtrate had a mercury content of 0.75 µg/L.

[0021] The above Examples 1 and 2 show that lignin derivatives, including ammonium lignosulfonates and kraft lignin, are capable of trapping dissolved mercury in a ferric sludge. The mass ratio of lignin derivative to ferric chloride in Examples 1 and 2 was 1:3.2 and 1:2.1 respectively.

Example 3:

[0022] Following the procedure of Example 1, 100 parts by weight of the wastewater of Example 1 was treated with 0.4 parts by weight of ammonium lignosulfonate and 1 part of a 40 weight % ferric chloride solution. The final pH after hydrated lime addition was 5.0. The filtrate had a mercury content of 126 µg/L. In this example, the mass ratio of lignin ferric chloride was 1/1, which did not achieve the low mercury content in the filtrate of Examples 1 and 2. A suitable mass ratio of the lignin derivative to ferric chloride is necessary to achieve very low residual concentrations of mercury in the treated water.

Example 4:

[0023] A wastewater having a pH of 5.5, a total mercury concentration of 3370 µg/L, a dissolved mercury concentration (size ≤ 0.45 µm) of 2657 µg/L and a conductivity of 3100 microSiemens/cm, was treated by mixing 100 parts by weight of wastewater and 0.8 parts by weight of a 40 weight % ferric chloride solution giving a final pH of 3.9. The filtrate had a mercury content of 1480 µg/L. This example shows that the addition of ferric chloride alone is not sufficient to trap mercury to achieve the low levels of residual mercury obtained in Examples 1 and 2.

Example 5:

[0024] A wastewater was obtained from a soil washing operation having a pH of 11.6, a total mercury concentration of 498 µg/L, a dissolved mercury concentration (size ≤ 0.45 µm) of 5.63 µg/L, suspended mercury concentration (0.45 µm < size ≤ 2.0 µm) of 68 µg/L and a conductivity of 800 microSiemens/cm. This wastewater was treated according to the procedure of Example 1 by adding 0.2 parts by weight of ammonium lignosulfonate to 100 parts by weight of wastewater, followed by the addition of 3.3 parts by weight of 40 weight % ferric chloride solution and 0.56 parts by weight of hydrated lime. The pH was adjusted to a value of 5.4 through the addition of soda ash. The treated wastewater was passed separately through filter paper of pore size 0.45 µm and through filter paper of pore size 2.0 µm. The dissolved mercury concentration (size ≤ 0.45 µm) of the filtrate was 0.61 µg/L and the suspended mercury concentration (0.45 µm < size ≤ 2.0 µm) was not detectable. Suspended mercury colloids were efficiently removed by the process.

Example 6:

[0025] A simulated wastewater was prepared by blending tap water and standard solutions of aluminum, chromium, copper, lead, zinc and nickel. The concentrations of the metal ions in the simulated wastewater were determined by ICP analysis and are summarized in Table 1. The simulated wastewater was treated by mixing 100 parts by weight of wastewater and 0.2 parts by weight of ammonium lignosulfonate followed by the addition of 3.2 parts by weight of 40 weight % ferric chloride solution. The pH of the solution was adjusted to 5.6 by adding 0.07 parts of sodium sulfite and hydrated lime. A floc formed which settled as a sludge. A portion of the solution was passed through a filter paper with a pore size of 0.45 µm and was analyzed by ICP. A second portion of the solution was treated by adjusting the pH to 8.6 through the addition of soda ash. After filtration through a filter paper with a pore size of 0.45 µm this second portion was also analyzed by ICP. The analytical results are summarized in Table. 1.

Table 1. Metal Ion Removal from Aqueous Solutions

Metal Species	Concentration Before Treatment (µg/L)	Concentration After Treatment (µg/L)
		At pH 5.6		At pH 8.6
		(µg/L)	Reduction (%)	(µg/L)	Reduction (%)
Aluminum	470	50	89.4	60	87.2
Chromium	213	10	95.3	10	95.3
Copper	2850	24	99.2	22	99.2
Lead	120	≺ MDL(1)	≻75	≺ MDL(1)	>75
Nickel	120	40	81.0	100	52.4
Zinc	7910	43	99.5	<5	>99.9

Note: (1) Method Detection Limit (MDL) in µg/L analysis was as follows: Al:20, Cr:5, Cu:5, Pb:30, N:10, Zn:5.

[0026] The results of Table 1 show that metal ions can be removed effectively from aqueous solutions through the process of this invention. It is also evident that, in addition to the mass ratio between lignin derivatives and ferric chloride, final pH is an important parameter which affects the efficiency of metal recovery from wastewater.

Claims

1. A method of removing metal contaminants from water, comprising the steps of:

(a) dispersing lignin derivatives in said metal-contaminated water, said lignin derivatives comprising one or more of lignosulfonates, kraft lignin and sulfonated kraft lignin salts;

(b) dispersing a coagulant comprising a metal salt in the mixture formed in step (a), the mass ratio of the lignin derivatives to the coagulant being at least 1:1;

(c) adjusting the pH of the mixture formed in step (b) to a pH in the range of 4 - 10, causing the formation of a floc;

(d) allowing said floc to settle, resulting in a liquid and a sludge; and

(e) separating said sludge from said liquid.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said metal contaminants comprise one or more of mercury, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, zinc and aluminum.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said lignosulfonates comprise one or more of:

(i) ammonium lignosulfonates;

(ii) calcium lignosulfonates;

(iii) sodium lignosulfonates; and

(iv) potassium lignosulfonates.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said sulfonated kraft lignin salts comprise sulfonated kraft lignin salts of ammonium, calcium, sodium or potassium.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said metal salt is ferric chloride.

6. A method according to claim 10 wherein said metal salt is ferric sulfate.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein said metal salt is aluminum chloride or aluminum sulfate.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the mass ratio of said lignin derivatives to said coagulants is at least 1:2. ,

9. A method according to claim 3 wherein said pH is adjusted by the addition of one or more of hydrated lime, calcium oxide, magnesium hydroxide, soda ash and sodium hydroxide.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein said pH is adjusted to a pH in the range of 5 - 6.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises allowing said floc to settle in a clarifier.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein step (e) comprises removing said sludge by filtration.

Ansprüche

1. Ein Verfahren zum Entfernen von Metallverunreinigungen aus Wasser, das die folgenden Schritte beinhaltet:

(a) Dispergieren von Ligninderivaten in dem mit Metall verunreinigten Wasser, wobei die Ligninderivate eines oder mehrere aus Lignosulfonaten, Kraftlignin und sulfonierten Kraftligninsalzen beinhalten;

(b) Dispergieren eines Koagulans, das ein Metallsalz beinhaltet, in der in Schritt (a) gebildeten Mischung, wobei das Massenverhältnis der Ligninderivate zu dem Koagulans mindestens 1:1 beträgt;

(c) Einstellen des pH-Wertes der in Schritt (b) gebildeten Mischung auf einen pH in dem Bereich von 4-10, was die Bildung von Flocken bewirkt;

(d) Absetzenlassen der Flocken, was in einer Flüssigkeit und einem Schlamm resultiert; und

(e) Trennen des Schlamms von der Flüssigkeit.

2. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei die Metallverunreinigungen eines oder mehrere aus Quecksilber, Chrom, Kupfer, Blei, Nickel, Zink und Aluminium beinhalten.

3. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei die Lignosulfonate eines oder mehrere aus Folgendem beinhalten:

(i) Ammoniumlignosulfonate;

(ii) Calciumlignosulfonate;

(iii) Natriumlignosulfonate und

(iv) Kaliumlignosulfonate.

4. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei die sulfonierten Kraftligninsalze sulfonierte Kraftligninsalze von Ammonium, Calcium, Natrium oder Kalium beinhalten.

5. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei das Metallsalz Eisen(III)-chlorid ist.

6. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 10, wobei das Metallsalz Eisen(III)-sulfat ist.

7. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei das Metallsalz Aluminiumchlorid oder Aluminiumsulfat ist.

8. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei das Massenverhältnis der Ligninderivate zu den Koagulanzien mindestens 1:2 beträgt.

9. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 3, wobei der pH-Wert durch die Zugabe von einem oder mehreren aus Kalkhydrat, Calciumoxid, Magnesiumhydroxid, kalzinierter Soda und Natriumhydroxid eingestellt wird.

10. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei der pH-Wert auf einen pH in dem Bereich von 5-6 eingestellt wird.

11. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei Schritt (d) das Absetzenlassen der Flocken in einer Klärvorrichtung beinhaltet.

12. Verfahren gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei Schritt (e) das Entfernen des Schlamms durch Filtrierung beinhaltet.

Revendications

1. Une méthode pour retirer des contaminants métalliques de l'eau, comprenant les étapes consistant à :

(a) disperser des dérivés de lignine dans ladite eau contaminée par des métaux, lesdits dérivés de lignine comprenant un ou plusieurs dérivés parmi les lignosulfonates, la thiolignine et des sels de thiolignine sulfonés ;

(b) disperser un coagulant comprenant un sel métallique dans le mélange formé dans l'étape (a), le rapport de masse entre les dérivés de lignine et le coagulant étant au moins de 1/1 ;

(c) ajuster le pH du mélange formé dans l'étape (b) à un pH compris dans la gamme allant de 4 à 10, provoquant la formation d'un floc ;

(d) permettre audit floc de sédimenter, résultant en un liquide et une boue ; et

(e) séparer ladite boue dudit liquide.

2. Une méthode selon la revendication 1 où lesdits contaminants métalliques comprennent un ou plusieurs métaux parmi le mercure, le chrome, le cuivre, le plomb, le nickel, le zinc et l'aluminium.

3. Une méthode selon la revendication 1 où lesdits lignosulfonates comprennent un ou plusieurs composants parmi :

(i) les lignosulfonates d'ammonium ;

(ii) les lignosulfonates de calcium ;

(iii) les lignosulfonates de sodium ; et

(iv) les lignosulfonates de potassium.

4. Une méthode selon la revendication 1 où lesdits sels de thiolignine sulfonés comprennent des sels de thiolignine sulfonés d'ammonium, de calcium, de sodium ou de potassium.

5. Une méthode selon la revendication 1 où ledit sel métallique est du chlorure de fer.

6. Une méthode selon la revendication 10 où ledit sel métallique est du sulfate de fer.

7. Une méthode selon la revendication 1 où ledit sel métallique est du chlorure d'aluminium ou du sulfate d'aluminium.

8. Une méthode selon la revendication 1 où le rapport de masse entre lesdits dérivés de lignine et lesdits coagulants est au moins de 1/2.

9. Une méthode selon la revendication 3 où ledit pH est ajusté par l'ajout d'un composant ou plus parmi l'hydroxyde de calcium, l'oxyde de calcium, l'hydroxyde de magnésium, le carbonate de sodium et l'hydroxyde de sodium.

10. Une méthode selon la revendication 1 où ledit pH est ajusté à un pH compris dans la gamme allant de 5 à 6.

11. Une méthode selon la revendication 1 où l'étape (d) comprend permettre audit floc de sédimenter dans un clarificateur.

12. Une méthode selon la revendication 1 où l'étape (e) comprend retirer ladite boue par filtration.